Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, on his appointment and wish him well in his new role. We previously served together in the Seanad.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue of post-leaving certificate courses, or PLCs as they are also known. Such courses were introduced in 1985 and have been a tremendous success, with hundreds of thousands of students throughout the country attending them. In counties Louth and Meath they have been of great assistance is allowing people to obtain additional qualifications in child care, community care, telecommunications, etc. I have taken a keen interest in the PLCs offered in my locality at the Dunboyne College of Further Education. I have attended many of the college's graduation ceremonies and I will be attending the next one in early May. I am always struck by the level of enthusiasm and hope among the students at such ceremonies.

Dunboyne College of Further Education was established a number of years ago as part of St. Peter's community college, which is the local secondary school. The numbers attending the college have increased significantly, with a current enrolment of 380 students. However, the maximum number of students in respect of which the college receives funding - that is, the cap - is only 233. If effect, therefore, it is educating almost 150 students without receiving any money at all in respect of them.

I raised this matter when I was a Member of the Upper House and the then Minister lifted the cap. However, we are still at the point where the cap which applies in County Meath is below the national average. As a result, an increase must be forthcoming. The benefits of introducing such an increase will be clear to people who attend colleges such as that to which I refer. More people would certainly attend such institutions if further places were available. The agreed programme for Government contains a commitment to increase the number of places available in education and, in such circumstances, I ask the Minister of State to increase the cap at Dunboyne.

I also wish to refer to the issue of accommodation at the Dunboyne College of Further Education. The college rents premises in the local industrial estate. It has managed to secure a site nearby, however, which is adjacent to the new Dunboyne rail station and the local bus stop and which would accommodate a new campus. I understand the site has been zoned and that work can proceed. I have also been told that officials in the Minister's Department are well aware of the proposal. I ask the Minister to provide us with the view of the Department on the development of the site. Has the Minister investigated the potential development of the site as a campus? If so, does he have a timescale for when the site might be developed?

I appreciate the Minister's time on this matter.

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